Review of nuclear archive records – November 2021
Updated 17 January 2024
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The review of nuclear related files in the ES and AB series held at The National Archives is being conducted in 5 stages. Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 are now complete.
Stage 4 involved a detailed title review of the withdrawn files and following its completion approximately 29,000 files are being released back to public access. Therefore approximately 67,000 files in total have been released back to public access at the Kew archive. The preliminary work regarding stage 5 is now underway and further updates on the outcome of this stage will be provided in due course.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to receive a significant number of requests under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act (the Act) 2000 for files currently under review. As announced in January 2021, due to the Freedom of Information requests placing disproportionate burden on the MOD and the public interest in the completion of the review, all requests are being considered against the burden criteria under Section 14(1) of the Act. The application of Section 14(1) of the Act remains under continuous assessment by MOD during the file review process.